Leading (podcast)

Last updated
Leading
The logo for the podcast Leading, hosted by British political figures Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart.webp
Presentation
Hosted by Alastair Campbell
Rory Stewart
GenreTalk
Format
LanguageEnglish
Length35-65 minutes
Production
No. of episodes118  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Publication
Original release16 January 2023
Ratings4.6153846153846/5  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Related
Website https://therestispolitics.supportingcast.fm/   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Leading is a British podcast launched in January 2023. Hosted by Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart, it is a sister podcast of their weekly politics podcast The Rest is Politics . [1] The podcast is produced by Goalhanger Podcasts. [2] [3]

Contents

Background

Both Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart have been active in British politics. Campbell is a journalist and political strategist, who served as the communications chief for Tony Blair. A former member of the Labour Party, Campbell was expelled after he voted for the Liberal Democrats in the 2019 European elections. [4]

Stewart is a former diplomat, author and politician. He served as Conservative international development secretary and prisons minister under Theresa May, and was a member of parliament for around nine years. In 2019, having rebelled against Boris Johnson's approach to Brexit, he was expelled from the parliamentary party. He later resigned his party membership as well. [5]

Campbell and Stewart's podcast The Rest is Politics, launched in March 2022, is aimed at providing a temperate and informed political debate in the United Kingdom. [6] As part of the podcast, the hosts would interview former and active political figures. These interviews were released irregularly, as opposed to the main podcast, which releases two episodes on Wednesday and Thursday of each week.

In January 2023, Goalhanger Podcasts launched Leading as a spin off, allowing Campbell and Stewart to interview on a regular basis as well as to interview non-political figures.

Episodes

The podcast usually releases a new episode every Monday. Former UK deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine was the podcast's first guest. [7] Some episodes are recorded with only Campbell as the interviewer. In such episodes, Stewart sometimes discusses the interview at the end with Campbell, without the relevant guest being present.

Key
*Interviewed only by Campbell
No.Guest(s)Running timeOriginal release dateLink
1 Michael Heseltine 48:33January 16, 2023 (2023-01-16) link at Apple Podcasts
2Marina Litvinenko*48:27January 23, 2023 (2023-01-23) link at Apple Podcasts
Widow of murdered British-naturalised Russian defector and Putin critic Alexander Litvinenko discusses her husband's poisoning and death, Vladimir Putin, and the invasion of Ukraine.
3 Alan Milburn 55:16January 30, 2023 (2023-01-30) link at Apple Podcasts
Former UK health secretary Milburn discusses NHS crisis and nurses' strikes, his tenure in Tony Blair's government, New Labour, and his upbringing.
4 Michel Barnier 41:25February 6, 2023 (2023-02-06) link at Apple Podcasts
EU Brexit chief negotiator Michel Barnier discusses Brexit and his career in French politics.
5 Michael Johnson*41:43February 13, 2023 (2023-02-13) link at Apple Podcasts
American sprinter and Olympic Games medalist Michael Johnson discusses future of athletics, taking the knee, and doping in sport.
6 David Lammy 56:35February 20, 2023 (2023-02-20) link at Apple Podcasts
UK shadow foreign secretary David Lammy discusses Brexit, international development, and his upbringing.
7 Fiona Hill 55:40February 27, 2023 (2023-02-27) link at Apple Podcasts
British-American foreign affairs specialist Fiona Hill discusses her upbringing in Bishop Auckland, the Ukraine conflict, and her work in the Trump Administration.
8 Bertie Ahern*52:18March 6, 2023 (2023-03-06) link at Apple Podcasts
Former Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern discusses his father's involvement in the anti-Treaty IRA, his own contribution to the Good Friday Agreement, and Northern Ireland peace process.
9 Bernie Sanders 40:11March 13, 2023 (2023-03-13) link at Apple Podcasts
US Senator Bernie Sanders discusses his presidential run and American healthcare reform.
10Rahima Mahmut*51:13March 20, 2023 (2023-03-20) link at Apple Podcasts
Uyghur artist and human rights activist Rahima Mahmut discusses the persecution of Uyghurs in China and the Xinjiang conflict.
11 Gary Lineker 56:23March 27, 2023 (2023-03-27) link at Apple Podcasts
English footballer and sports broadcaster Gary Lineker discusses his career and 2023 suspension from Match of the Day.
12 David Baddiel 51:59April 3, 2023 (2023-04-03) link at Apple Podcasts
English comedian, presenter, and author David Baddiel discusses his maternal family's entry into Britain as refugees during the Holocaust, antisemitism in the UK, his polemic Jews Don't Count , and his co-written song Three Lions .
13 Brian Cox*38:14April 10, 2023 (2023-04-10) link at Apple Podcasts
Scottish actor Brian Cox discusses Succession , SNP, and Scottish independence.
14 David Miliband 56:20April 17, 2023 (2023-04-17) link at Apple Podcasts
Former UK foreign secretary and President of the International Rescue Committee David Miliband discusses New Labour and his work for the IRC providing humanitarian aid.
15 Hillary Clinton 41:10April 24, 2023 (2023-04-24) link at Apple Podcasts
16 Tony Blair 40:21May 1, 2023 (2023-05-01) link at Apple Podcasts
17 Gerry Adams 42:07May 8, 2023 (2023-05-08) link at Apple Podcasts
Irish republican politician Gerry Adams discusses The Troubles.
18 George Osborne 01:04:22May 15, 2023 (2023-05-15) link at Apple Podcasts
Former UK chancellor George Osborne discusses his chancellorship and austerity programme.
19 Leo Varadkar 34:05May 22, 2023 (2023-05-22) link at Apple Podcasts
Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar discusses his upbringing, Irish politics and foreign policy, and artificial intelligence.
20 Jonathan Powell 51:45May 29, 2023 (2023-05-29) link at Apple Podcasts
21 Mary McAleese*47:35June 5, 2023 (2023-06-05) link at Apple Podcasts
Former Irish president Mary McAleese discusses her legal career and presidency, Catholic Church in Ireland, and Northern Ireland peace process.
22 Kate Raworth 56:24June 12, 2023 (2023-06-12) link at Apple Podcasts
English economist Kate Raworth discusses doughnut economics and economic sustainability.
23 John Major: Part 146:08June 19, 2023 (2023-06-19) link at Apple Podcasts
Former UK prime minister John Major discusses his early political career and resignation of Margaret Thatcher.
24John Major: Part 201:01:17June 26, 2023 (2023-06-26) link at Apple Podcasts
Former UK prime minister John Major discusses his premiership, Gulf War, and Black Wednesday.
25 Michael Ignatieff 59:21July 3, 2023 (2023-07-03) link at Apple Podcasts
Former Canadian opposition leader and academic Michael Ignatieff discusses his career and climate change.
26 Francis Fukuyama 55:23July 10, 2023 (2023-07-10) link at Apple Podcasts
American political scientist and international relations writer Francis Fukuyama discusses his The End of History thesis and authoritarianism.
27 Feargal Sharkey*44:51July 17, 2023 (2023-07-17) link at Apple Podcasts
Northern Irish singer Feargal Sharkey discusses his upbringing in Derry and environmental campaigning.
28 Paul Nurse 1:04:32July 24, 2023 (2023-07-24) link at Apple Podcasts
29 Yuval Noah Harari: Part 154:13July 31, 2023 (2023-07-31) link at Apple Podcasts
Israeli public intellectual and historian Yuval Noah Harari discusses 2023 Israeli protests.
30 Anthony Joshua 54:41August 7, 2023 (2023-08-07) link at Apple Podcasts
British professional boxer Anthony Joshua discusses his career.
31Yuval Noah Harari: Part 258:41August 14, 2023 (2023-08-14) link at Apple Podcasts
Israeli public intellectual and historian Yuval Noah Harari discusses artificial intelligence and populism in the 21st century.
32 Miriam González Durántez 58:15August 21, 2023 (2023-08-21) link at Apple Podcasts
Spanish lawyer and vice chair of UBS Europe Miriam González Durántez discusses gender equality, and Cameron-Clegg coalition.
33 Mustafa Suleyman 01:04:34August 28, 2023 (2023-08-28) link at Apple Podcasts
British artificial intelligence researcher Mustafa Suleyman discusses artificial intelligence, and his early life and career.
34 Ed Davey 01:12:11September 4, 2023 (2023-09-04) link at Apple Podcasts
35 Catherine Ashton 01:01:58September 11, 2023 (2023-09-11) link at Apple Podcasts
36 Andy Burnham and Andy Street 57:17September 18, 2023 (2023-09-18) link at Apple Podcasts
Inaugural mayors of Greater Manchester (Burnham) and West Midlands (Street) discuss devolved local government in England and their mayoral careers.
37 Chris Hipkins 56:45September 25, 2023 (2023-09-25) link at Apple Podcasts
38 Theresa May: Part 155:34October 2, 2023 (2023-10-02) link at Apple Podcasts
Former UK prime minister Theresa May discusses her tenure as Home Secretary, Windrush scandal, and Hillsborough disaster.
39 Theresa May: Part 255:39October 9, 2023 (2023-10-09) link at Apple Podcasts
Former UK prime minister Theresa May discusses her tenure as prime minister, Brexit negotiations, and Donald Trump.
40 Minette Batters 56:50October 16, 2023 (2023-10-16) link at Apple Podcasts
NFU president and British farmer Minette Batters discusses British agriculture, post-Brexit UK FTAs, and Net Zero.
41 Reid Hoffman 01:12:49October 23, 2023 (2023-10-23) link at Apple Podcasts
American venture capitalist and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman discusses AI, PayPal Mafia, and 2024 US presidential race.
42 Sayeeda Warsi 55:47October 27, 2023 (2023-10-27) link at Apple Podcasts
43 Arnold Schwarzenegger 53:23October 30, 2023 (2023-10-30) link at Apple Podcasts
Former California governor and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger discusses his early life, career, and 2024 US presidential race.
44 Mark Carney 01:03:53November 6, 2023 (2023-11-06) link at Apple Podcasts
Canadian economist and former Bank of England governor Mark Carney discusses austerity, monetary policy, and climate change.
45 Comfort Ero 59:47November 13, 2023 (2023-11-13) link at Apple Podcasts
Crisis Group CEO Comfort Ero discusses United Nations and international peace.
46 Arancha González Laya 51:51November 20, 2023 (2023-11-20) link at Apple Podcasts
Former Spanish foreign minister Arancha González Laya discusses her career, Russian invasion of Ukraine, and AI regulation.
47Tony Klug49:07November 24, 2023 (2023-11-24) link at Apple Podcasts
British international affairs consultant Tony Klug discusses Arab-Israeli conflict and 2023 Israel-Hamas war.
48 Simon Sebag Montefiore 47:17November 27, 2023 (2023-11-27) link at Apple Podcasts
British historian Simon Sebag Montefiore discusses Arab-Israeli conflict and his book Jerusalem: The Biography .
49 Christiana Figueres 57:28December 4, 2023 (2023-12-04) link at Apple Podcasts
Costa Rican diplomat and former UNFCCC executive secretary Christiana Figueres discusses climate change and COP 2028.
50 Angela Rayner 1:09:33December 11, 2023 (2023-12-11) link at Apple Podcasts
51 Tim Peake 1:00:02December 18, 2023 (2023-12-18) link at Apple Podcasts
British astronaut Tim Peake discusses his Army Air Corps career, and space exploration and colonisation.
52 Tom Holland 1:03:32December 25, 2023 (2023-12-25) link at Apple Podcasts
British historian Tom Holland discusses influence of Christianity on Western culture.
53 Seb Coe 1:01:23January 1, 2024 (2024-01-01) link at Apple Podcasts
British sports Seb Coe discusses his athletics, politics and sports administration careers, 2020 London Olympics, and doping.
54 Guy Verhofstadt 55:47January 8, 2024 (2024-01-08) link at Apple Podcasts
55 Gillian Keegan 01:11:43January 15, 2024 (2024-01-15) link at Apple Podcasts
UK education secretary Gillian Keegan discusses her early life and career, and education in the UK.
56 Bill Gates 57:00January 22, 2024 (2024-01-22) link at Apple Podcasts
American businessman and philanthropist Bill Gates discusses development of Microsoft and his philanthropic interests.
57 Tucker Eskew 56:23January 29, 2024 (2024-01-29) link at Apple Podcasts
58 Humza Yousaf 01:04:30February 5, 2024 (2024-02-05) link at Apple Podcasts
59 Robert Sapolsky 01:05:53February 12, 2024 (2024-02-12) link at Apple Podcasts
60 Anthony Scaramucci 01:08:31February 19, 2024 (2024-02-19) link at Apple Podcasts
American financier and former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci discusses 2024 US election and campaign finance in the US.
61 James Rubin 01:08:52February 26, 2024 (2024-02-26) link at Apple Podcasts
American diplomat James Rubin discusses foreign policy of Joe Biden and American interventionism.
62 Sajid Javid: Part 142:21March 4, 2024 (2024-03-04) link at Apple Podcasts
63 Sajid Javid: Part 242:21March 8, 2024 (2024-03-08) link at Apple Podcasts
Former UK chancellor Sajid Javid discusses the Johnson premiership and the decision to revoke Shamima Begum's citizenship.
64 Caroline Lucas 01:07:02March 11, 2024 (2024-03-11) link at Apple Podcasts
Former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas discusses her career.
65 Albin Kurti 01:03:28March 18, 2024 (2024-03-18) link at Apple Podcasts
Kosovar prime minister Albin Kurti discusses his career and imprisonment, and Kosovar independence and foreign relations.
66 Antony Gormley 01:05:49March 25, 2024 (2024-03-25) link at Apple Podcasts
British sculptor Antony Gormley discusses his work and art.
67 Eliza Manningham-Buller and John Sawers 01:11:13April 1, 2024 (2024-04-01) link at Apple Podcasts
Former British intelligence officers Eliza Manningham-Buller (MI5 director general) and John Sawers (MI6 chief) discuss espionage and their careers.
68 Edward Kessler 00:56:29April 8, 2024 (2024-04-08) link at Apple Podcasts
British theologian Edward Kessler discusses the Israel-Palestine conflict.
69 Dieter Helm 01:14:00April 15, 2024 (2024-04-15) link at Apple Podcasts
British economist and academic Dieter Helm discusses COP conferences and Net Zero.
70 Sadiq Khan 01:10:36April 22, 2024 (2024-04-22) link at Apple Podcasts
71 Ehud Olmert 01:03:59April 29, 2024 (2024-04-29) link at Apple Podcasts
72 Nancy Pelosi 58:07May 6, 2024 (2024-05-06) link at Apple Podcasts
Former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi discusses her career and campaign finance in the United States.
73 Kwasi Kwarteng: Part 144:09May 13, 2024 (2024-05-13) link at Apple Podcasts
74Kwasi Kwarteng: Part 254:38May 20, 2024 (2024-05-20) link at Apple Podcasts
Former UK chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng discusses Truss government and his mini-budget.
75 Kyriakos Mitsotakis 01:05:14May 26, 2024 (2024-05-26) link at Apple Podcasts
Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis discusses his premiership, migration, and the Elgin Marbles.
76 Rachel Reeves 01:11:32May 27, 2024 (2024-05-27) link at Apple Podcasts
UK shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves discusses her career and Labour's economic plan.
77 David Blunkett: Part 147:10June 3, 2024 (2024-06-03) link at Apple Podcasts
Former British Education and Home Secretary David Blunkett discusses his early life, blindness, and early political career.
78David Blunkett: Part 252:00June 10, 2024 (2024-06-10) link at Apple Podcasts
Former British Education and Home Secretary David Blunkett discusses his career in the New Labour government.
79 Nadhim Zahawi 48:54June 14, 2024 (2024-06-14) link at Apple Podcasts
Former UK chancellor Nadhim Zahawi discusses early life, Johnson premiership, and COVID-19 vaccination in the UK.
80 Bridget Phillipson 57:00June 17, 2024 (2024-06-17) link at Apple Podcasts
81 Alex Chalk 58:53June 24, 2024 (2024-06-24) link at Apple Podcasts
UK justice secretary and Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk discusses his career, Brexit, and prison crisis in the UK.
82 Wes Streeting 58:41June 28, 2024 (2024-06-28) link at Apple Podcasts
UK shadow health secretary Wes Streeting discusses his career, faith, and National Health Service.
83 Gus O'Donnell 55:04July 1, 2024 (2024-07-01) link at Apple Podcasts
Former UK Cabinet Secretary Gus O'Donnell discusses transition of power in the UK and the Civil Service.
84 Helle Thorning-Schmidt 1:00:51July 8, 2024 (2024-07-08) link at Apple Podcasts
Former Danish prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt discusses her premiership.
85 Lisa Nandy 1:10:08July 15, 2024 (2024-07-15) link at Apple Podcasts
UK culture secretary Lisa Nandy discusses her career and cabinet portfolio.
86 Nick Clegg: Part 11:00:29July 22, 2024 (2024-07-22) link at Apple Podcasts
87Nick Clegg: Part 21:02:51July 29, 2024 (2024-07-29) link at Apple Podcasts
Former UK deputy prime minister Nick Clegg discusses the Cameron-Clegg coalition and his role at Facebook.
88 David Frum 1:11:11August 5, 2024 (2024-08-05) link at Apple Podcasts
American speechwriter David Frum discusses his work for George W. Bush and 2024 US presidential race.
89 David Davis 1:07:25August 12, 2024 (2024-08-12) link at Apple Podcasts
Former UK Brexit secretary David Davis discusses his career and politics.
90 Peter Malinauskas 1:05:32August 19, 2024 (2024-08-19) link at Apple Podcasts
South Australia premier Peter Malinauskas discusses his career and negative impact of social media on children.
91John Anzalone34:00August 23, 2024 (2024-08-23) link at Apple Podcasts
American pollster John Anzalone interviewed at 2024 Democratic National Convention.
92 Bob Mulholland 28:52August 24, 2024 (2024-08-24) link at Apple Podcasts
American political operative Bob Mulholland interviewed at 2024 Democratic National Convention.
93 Rosa DeLauro 20:57August 25, 2024 (2024-08-25) link at Apple Podcasts
American congresswoman Rosa DeLauro interviewed at 2024 Democratic National Convention.
94 Josh Elliott 17:26August 26, 2024 (2024-08-26) link at Apple Podcasts
American state representative Josh Elliott interviewed at 2024 Democratic National Convention.
95 David Urban 23:49August 27, 2024 (2024-08-27) link at Apple Podcasts
American lobbyist David Urban interviewed at 2024 Democratic National Convention.
96 Frank Luntz 59:00September 2, 2024 (2024-09-02) link at Apple Podcasts
American pollster Frank Luntz discusses 2020 US presidential election.

References

  1. The Week Staff (25 May 2023). "The best politics podcasts of 2023: what the critics say". www.theweek.co.uk. The Week . Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  2. Turvill, William (8 December 2022). "The News Agents podcast hits 10 million downloads". pressgazette.co.uk. Press Gazette. Archived from the original on 27 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  3. Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart (13 January 2023). "Trailer". podcasts.apple.com (Podcast). Goalhanger Podcasts. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  4. "Labour expels Alastair Campbell from party". The Guardian. 28 May 2019. Archived from the original on 8 April 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  5. Bloom, Dan (4 September 2019). "Tory Rory Stewart sacked by text while he accepted politician of the year award". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 8 September 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  6. Duggins, Alexi; Verdier, Hannah; Richardson, Hollie; Lindlar, Charlie (29 December 2022). "Best podcasts of the week: The rise and fall of the Silicon Valley brand that made antidepressants 'cool'". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 21 January 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  7. Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart (16 January 2023). "Michael Heseltine:From Thatcher to Sunak". podcasts.apple.com (Podcast). Goalhanger Podcasts. Retrieved 3 June 2023.